Body of Man Accused of Killing Wife and Son-in-Law Found in Armavir Prison

On August 23, around 14:00, an employee at the Armavir penal institution of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia discovered the body of detainee Zhora Hakobyan, born November 25, 1955, hanging from a window grate with a bed sheet provided to him.

This information was reported by the public relations department of the penitentiary service of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia. Zh. Hakobyan was accused of killing his wife and son-in-law. A criminal case has been initiated by the Vaqarshapat Investigative Division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia on the basis of features outlined in Articles 104, Part 1 and 235, Part 1 of the Criminal Code.

Hakobyan was arrested on June 11, 2019. On June 14, 2019, a decision was made by the General Jurisdiction Court of Armavir Region to impose pre-trial detention, and on the same day, he was transferred to the Armavir penitentiary. Hakobyan exhibited signs of mental instability and aggressive behavior. He was diagnosed with organic encephalopathy by doctors at the Armavir penal institution, and a psychiatrist was invited to prescribe appropriate treatment.

Since August 12, 2019, Hakobyan declared a hunger strike and was transferred to a specially designated cell for that purpose. He was under the supervision of the institution's doctors and was receiving medicinal treatments.

A criminal case has been initiated by the Vaqarshapat investigative division to clarify the circumstances of the incident.